Fountain soap brush



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Char/e5 1 Ewan- May 27, 1941. c. v. EWAN 2,243,275

FOUNTAIN SOAP BRUSH Filed March 14, 1939 2 Shegts-Sheet 2 fill/II .1!II!!!rlllllllllltllllllllllll III!i4IIII!Illllllllll ill/dill!!! r515|5I!!!lllrllwllrdllllllllzlilrdlllllllllllllll;l/lll/l/lll$714,154

INVENTOR C/var/es 1/. Swan ATTORNEYS Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE.

FOUNTAIN SOAP BRUSH Charles V. Ewan, Los Gatos, Calif. Application March 14, 1939, Serial No. 261,746

3 Claims. (Cl. 299-83) This invention relates to a fountain soap brush and has for its objects a simple, sanitary fountain soap brush of rugged construction that is easily held in one hand of an operator and is adapted to be easily manipulated for washing utensils or other objects and which brush is provided with means for quickly changing the flow of water therethrough from soapy to fresh Water, or a mixture of both, by the grasping hand while the same is being used for washing.

Another object is a fountain soap brush in which the soap is contained within the handle that is grasped by the operator and through which handle the water passes to the brush.

A still further object is a fountain soap brush having a handle through which hot water is adapted to flow to the brush and in which fountain soap brush improved means is provided for protecting the hand grasping the handle again-st injury due to heat from the hot water and yet another object is improved means in a fountain soap brush for controlling the flow of water through the same.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the specification and drawings annexed hereto.

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through my device with several parts shown in elevation,

Fig, 1A is a part sectional and part elevational view illustrating the faucet attaching member on the hose leading to the brush.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional, part elevational view of my device at right angles to the view of'Fig. 1 along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve operating mechanism of my device showing the valve partially open for flow of fresh water and soapy water.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3 with the valve in a position for flow of fresh water only to the brush.

Fig. 5 is a lower plan view of the lower end of my device with the brush removed as seen from line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In detail, I provide a generally cylindrical, open-ended bristle supporting block I, in which a row of bristles 2 are secured at one of their ends in the annular end of the block with the bristles projecting axially outwardly of said end. The block I may be of wood, hard rubber, or of any suitable composition material.

An externally threaded metal ferrule 3 may be secured on the end of block I that is opposite the bristles, or threads may be formed in the block itself.

The threads iof the ferrule, orof block I, if

the latter are formed in said block, threadedly engage internal threads formed at one end of a tubular sleeve 5, which sleeve carries an elongated tubular shell 6 that projects outwardly an appreciable distance from the end of said sleeve opposite the end of the latter that supports the block I, and the end of said shell remote from said block is closed by an end wall I having a central aperture 8 formed therein (Fig. 1).

The central portion 9' of sleeve 5, with which the end of shell 6 engages, is of lesser diameter than the threads 4, and the end of the sleeve 5 opposite threads 4 is internally threaded at II similar to threads 4, which threads Ii engage external threads formed on one end of a second sleeve I2, the internal diameter of sleeve l2 being adapted to closely lit the outside of the shell 6,

The end of said second sleeve I2, opposite the end thereof that is connected with sleeve 5, is also externally threaded, which threads engage the internal threads I3 formed on the end of a tubular handle I4 that encloses the shell 5, thus connecting the handle with said second sleeve I2, and with sleeve 5, and positioning the handle with its inner sides spaced from the walls of the shell IS.

The sleeve I2 is of heat insulating material and the adjacent ends of sleeve 5 and handie I4 are spaced by an annular projection that is formed on said sleeve I2, which projection is between said adjacent ends of the sleeve 5 and handle.

At the juncture of the threads 4 and central portion 9 of sleeve 5, said central portion provides an abutment adapted to be engaged by a flange I5 on the end of the shell 6 so as to secure said shell against axial movement through the shell in direction away from block I.

Within the block I I also provide a dome shaped perforated plate It adjacent the base of the bristles 2, which plate extends across the bore of the block. Said plate is provided with cylindrical walls II that fit the bore of block I and extend to the end of block I that is ad- 'jacent the flange I5 of shell 6. At said end of block I the cylindrical walls I! may be turned outwardly forming a flange I8 adapted to extend partially over the end of the block or the flange I8 may extend completely over said end of the block to connect with the ferrule 3, if so desired. It is, of course, obvious that the walls I3 and ferrule 3 may bemade in one piece.

Between the flange I8 of the walls I! andthe flange I5 of shell 6, is mounted a perforated disk I 9. said disk, the walls I7 and the dome shaped end wall l3 thereof, thus form walls of a chamber 20 positioned within the block I. The dome shaped end wall I6 is preferably bowed outwardly, with its convex side facing outwardly, so as the openings therein are directed both toward the bristles around the outer edge thereof as well as being directed substantially axially of the longitudinal axis of the device.

The cylindrical walls of the shell 3, end 1 thereof, and the perforated disk l9 form the walls of an elongated chamber 23 adapted to contain soap chips, or small particles of soap, such as the remnants of soap cakes.

Extending through the soap chamber 23', ax-

ially thereof, and out through aperture 8 in the head 1 of said chamber, is a water conduit 2|..

The said conduit 2| is releasably secured to shell by nuts 22 on opposite sides of said head 1, which nuts are threaded on said conduit at opposite sides of the head, and a water tight joint is provided by washers disposed between the nuts and head 1.

The portion of conduit 2| within shell 5 is offset toward one side of the shell, by means of a bend 22 therein adjacent head 1, and below said bend, and within chamber 29', said conduit extends generally axially of said shell, but to one side of the central axis of the latter, terminating in an open end relatively close to disk l9, but spaced from said disk. The said open end of said tubular member opens into an enlarged tubular passageway 23 that carries members 24 (Fig. 2). The members 24 are shaped to seat against the inner cylindrical sides of the shell 5.

The walls of passageway 23 at the end thereof through which the conduit 2| extends, are turned inwardly, as at 25 to engage the outer sides of said conduit and to space the sides of said conduit at its open end from the inner sides of the passageway.

Between the projections 24 that are carried by passageway 23 is a laterally projecting, short tube 26 that opens at one end within the passageway 23 at a point spaced below the terminating end of conduit 2|, and the opposite end opens outwardly. The sleeve 5 and shell 6 are formed with aligned apertures and also sleeve I2 is cut away, whereby the tube 26 may project through the shell 3 and be threadedly connected with the leg 21 of a T fitting, with the through bore through the arms of the fitting extending parallel with the axis of conduit 2|, but outside the sleeve 5 (Figs. 3 and 4) The said tube 23 is internally threaded to threadedly engage external threads on the leg' 21, and shoulders on the leg 21 and tube 26 cooperate, respectively, to tightly grip against the outer side of sleeve 5 and the inner side of shell 5 when the leg 21 is screwed into tube 26, thus rigidly securing the passageway 23 and the arm of the T fitting in parallelism and securing the passageway 23 in axial alignment with the portion of conduit ii to which it isconnected.

The conduit 2| is formed with a side port 2| facing the central axis of the shell 6, which port is spaced a substantial distance from the end that is within passageway 23. Within said conduit is a sleeve valve member 28 in the form of a tube slidably fitted within conduit 2|. Said valve extends at one end outwardly of the open end of the conduit 2| and into passageway 23, and is provided with a cap 29 closing said one end. The margins of said cap project radially outwardly around the sleeve valve 28 at said end forming an annular, axially facing seat adapted to fit against the end of conduit 2|. Closely adjacent said cap, the valve 28 is ported at 39 (Figs. 3, 4), and said valve is also formed with a port 3| that is in registration with port 2| when the valve is in position with the margins of cap 29 in seating engagement with the end of conduit 2 I.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the margins of cap 29, and cap 29, close the free end of conduit 2|, the water entering said conduit will flow through registering forts 2|, and 3!, into the soap compartment 28 and out to the brush.

However, when the sleeve valve 28 is moved outwardly of the conduit, the port 33 will gradually move beyond the free end of conduit 2|, and the port 2| will gradually be closed, thus permitting part of the water passing through conduit 2| to pass into the soap compartment, and part of the fresh water to pass through passageway 23, whereby a less soapy solution will result, the fresh and soapy water mixing in chamber '29 and then passing out of the end of the brush to the bristles (Fig. 3). Upon further outward movement of valve 28 (Fig. 4) the port 2| will be completely closed and only fresh clear water will pass out of port 39 and through passageway 23 to the bristles and onto the object being cleaned.

In order to effect the aforesaid movement of the valve 28, and to maintain the valve 28 against turning on its axis, an eye 32 is formed on the outer side of cap 29. Through this eye and through the bores of the tube 23 and leg 21 extends a rod 33, which rod connects at its outer end with a cross rod 34 at a point substantially centrally between the ends of said cross rod. The rod 34 slidably extends at its ends through packing nuts 35 in the ends of the arms of the T fitting of which leg 21 is a part. The cross rod 34 is thus axially slidable in the arms of the T fitting, and the diameter of the aligned bores in tube 26 and leg 21 is sufficiently large relative to the thickness of the rod 33 to permit said rod to move radially of the axis of said bores to thereby move valve 28 to fully open and close port 2| and port 38 and to tightly seat the margin of cap 29 against the end of conduit 2|,

To move cross rod 34, I provide a tubular casing 36 enclosing the arms of the T fitting of which leg 21 is a part. Said casing is of heat insulating material, such as hard rubber or a hardened plastic compound or the like. The side of the casing36 adjacent the body of the brush is slotted to permit movement of the casing longitudinally, and one end of the cross rod 34 is securedto one end 31 of said casing, while the opposite end of the cross rod is supported in the opposite end of said casing. The outer side of the cross head of the T fitting through which cross rod 34 is slidable, is notched at three spaced points 38, and a spring 39 secured to the inner side of the casing 36 is adapted to successively engage the notches as the casing is moved to cause movement of valve 2|. These three notches provide for releasably holding the sleeve valve 28 in a position in which all of the water in conduit passes into the soap container and out, as shown in Fig. l, or in the position shown in Fig. 3 in which part of the clear water passes out of the brush with part of the soapy water, or in the position indicated in Fig. 4 in which only clear water passesout of the brush.

From the foregoing, it is seen that casing 35 is virtually a part of the valve actuating mechanism and is positioned to be readily manipulated by the hand that grasps handle i l during manipulation of the brush for washing.

In Fig. 5, the screen or disk H) is clearly shown in plan view. The walls of passageway 23 project through a circular aperture 40, thus the outlet of passageway 23 is below said screen, and as the soap in chamber 25 is all held above said screen, when the port 2! is closed, all the fresh, clear water passing through conduit 2! will pass outwardly of the brush.

The filling of the soap chamber is readily accomplished by merely removing the block I and disk l9, and as the conduit 2| is disposed at one side of said soap chamber, it does not interfere with the filling operation. Also the ready removal of block I with the bristles, enables rapid substitution of any desired brush head, such as one having wire bristles, or other material.

The handle Hi is formed with an aperture at at the end :2! adjacent the aperture 8, to enable the end of a rubber hose 42 to be secured to the outwardly projecting end 43 of conduit 2| (Fig. l) with the hose extending to partially through said aperture, thus removing any danger of burning the hand by contact with metal heated by hot water passing through the device. Also the hose 32 may be of any desired length, and it may be formed at the end opposite the fountain brush in the conventional manner, for attachment to a faucet.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A washing device of the character described, comprising a hollow, elongated, tubular outer shell, providing a handle for holding by a hand of the operator during manipulation of the device when in use; an elongated, tubular inner shell extending longitudinally within said outer shell having its walls spaced from the walls of said outer shell, said inner shell being a soap compartment for soap; said inner and said outer shell each being provided with a head at one of their corresponding ends and their opposite corresponding ends terminating in open ends relatively close to each other; means on the said opposite end of said outer shell for removably securing an apertured washing element thereto and an apertured disk extending across said opposite end of said inner shell; a conduit for water extending through the heads of said outer and said inner shells and through said inner shell longitudinally thereof and through said apertured disk to a point adjacent the washing element to be attached to said last mentioned means; said conduit being formed with a first opening in a side thereof at a point within said soap compartment for discharge of water into said inner shell and said conduit also being provided with a discharge opening outwardly of said inner shell adjacent said washing element; single, movable valve means associated with said conduit simultaneously movable from a position in which said first opening is closed and said second opening is open to a position in which said second opening is closed and said first opening is open, and means mounting said valve means for said movement.

2. A washing device of the character described comprising an inner and an outer, elongated tubular shell; said inner shell being spaced within said outer shell and coaxial therewith; each of said shells being open at one end and provided with heads at their opposite ends, said outer shell providing a handle to be held by the hand of an operator for manipulating the: device and said inner shell providing a soap compartment for soap; a continuous, elongated water conduit extending completely through said inner shell longitudinally thereof and through the heads of said inner and said outer shells for connecting to a flexible hose at a point adjacent the head of said outer shell; means at said point for so connecting said conduit to such hose; means at said open end of said outer shell outwardly of the correspondingly open end of said inner shell for removably securing an apertured washing element thereto; an apertured disk extending across the said open end of said inner shell at a point spaced from the element to be attached to the open end of said outer shell for supporting soap within said inner shell; said conduit extending past said disk and outwardly thereof relative to the soap compartment; a pair of openings in said conduit respectively communicating with said soap compartment and with the space in the outer end of said outer shell outwardly of said disk; a sleeve valve slidably supported on said conduit movable longitudinally thereof to positions opening one of said openings andclosing the other or vice versa, and means adjacent the open end of said outer shell for so actuating said valve.

3. A washing device of the character de scribed, comprising a hollow elongated, cylindrical handle of substantially uniform diameter from end to end thereof for grasping by the hand of an operator during manipulation of the device; a hollow, elongated, cylindrical shell coaxial with said handle and enclosed therein with its walls spaced from the walls of said handle; one of the corresponding ends of said handle and said shell each being formed with a head and said heads being spaced apart, the opposite corresponding ends of said handle and shell being open; heat insulation means adjacent said opposite corresponding ends securing the handle and shell together and supporting said shell spaced within said handle; a water conduit extending through said shell from end to end thereof and extending at one of its ends through the heads of said shell and handle; said conduit being formed with a pair of openings respectively communicating with the interior of said shell at a point spaced a substantial distance from the open end of said shell and with the space outwardly of the open end of said shell adjacent said latter end; an apertured member at said open end of said shell for supporting soap within said shell, movable valve means arranged and adapted for opening and closing said pair of openings accessible from a point adjacent the open ends of said handle and shell for actuation thereof, and means at said open end of the handle 4 for securing a washing element thereto.

CHARLES v. EWAN. 

